Rohit determined to utilize chance

Mumbai middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma expressed his happiness after being recalled to the Indian squad for the third and final Test against the West Indies, commencing on November 22.

The 24-year-old, who has played 67 ODIs for the country but is yet to make his Test debut, said injuries had stalled his progress and wished to stay off them in the future so that he could cash in on the opportunity.

"I am quite happy to be back in the Test side, and I would like to cash in on this chance to play for India. Unfortunately, I had a lot of injuries in the past, and I would like to stay clear of injuries in the future," Sharma told reporters at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday.

Sharma, considered among the brightest young batting prospects, had narrowly missed the chance to make his Test debut a couple of years ago when he twisted his ankle while playing football with his India team-mates half an hour before a match against Australia at Nagpur's Jamtha Stadium.

He had a fruitful time in the West Indies in the ODI series after being ignored for the World Cup, but a first-ball injury, when he broke his finger in the first ODI against England on India's next tour, put paid to his aspirations.

He did not recover in time to play the return ODI series at home against England. But back-to-back hundreds for Mumbai in their first two Ranji Trophy games have earned him a berth for the third Test at the cost of the under-performing Yuvraj Singh.

"I had a couple of hundreds in the Ranji Trophy this season, so I am confident about my form with the bat. Hopefully I can stay away from injuries and play for India for long years."

"I have learnt a lot during the time away from Indian squad, and now I am happy to be back in the squad. I am happy to see my efforts in the domestic matches getting rewarded."